The next highlight moment came during a private concert that I offered in Tavira, Portugal in an apartment that was very typical of the architecture of the Algarve (Southern Portugal). The floors were tiled, and the walls were white plaster with tile interspersed throughout. While tuning up, I noticed how “active” the space sounded, and my hostess commented on the influence that the Moors had on the world renown tile tradition, called Azulejo, of Portugal. The Moors entered Portugal in the south near Tavira, and their influence can be seen in many spots in town.
The Indian music that I play (called Dhrupad) has a loose historical connection to Islam and many of the famous players of the sarod were Muslim. Although the music of the Moors and Dhrupad evolved separately, I found there to be a profound connection in the way that my sarod sounded in a space made up of Moorish tile, the same type of tile found in the Muslim temples of Pakistan, West Bengal, and Bangladesh.
I offered Yaman. The walls and floor reverberated in a way that I can’t quite explain. Let’s just say that my sarod had found a happy place.
Next Session: Cordas World Music Festival – Biblioteca da Madalena (Pico, Island, Azores, Portugal) October 2, 2025
